The idea of plunking down and popping off 120 sit-ups can be
a li’l intimidating, not to mention boring. So check out these eight twists on
traditional ab work to spice up your exercise routine. Pick the move that suits
you best, or mix ‘n’ match.

All Squared Away

Lay down on your back with your hands behind your head.
Holding your legs together, bend your knees and lift your legs ‘til your shins
are parallel to the floor and your thighs form a 90-degree angle with it. Your
legs should look like they’re resting on a square box. Keep them there and lift
your upper bod into a crunch. Lower your upper bod back down, but don’t move
your legs. Do 24 more crunches without moving your legs from their squared
position.

We Heart Hugs

Sit on the ground with your knees bent. Then lift your feet
off the floor and roll back a little ‘til you’re balancing on your tailbone. In
one motion, push your feet straight out in front of you (keeping them tight
together) and spread your arms out wide, like you’re opening them up to hug
someone. Then bring your legs back in to your chest without letting your feet
touch the floor and sweep your arms in like you’re hugging your shins. You
don’t have to actually touch your shins, just make your arms form a loose
circle around them. And that’s one rep. Do 24 more, alternating pushing your
legs and arms out and pulling them back in.

Side Ways

Lay down on your left side with your legs held together and
your knees straight. Bending at the hips, move your legs in so they’re at a
45-degree angle with your upper bod but are still on the floor. Put your right
hand behind your head and then bring both ends of your bod up in a crunch so
that your elbow almost meets your knee. Lower your shoulders and legs back to
the ground. Try to keep your legs as straight as possible and at a 45-degree
angle with your upper bod the entire time. Do 19 more reps on that side and
then switch to do 20 laying on your right side.

Rolly Pollies

Lay down on your back with your knees bent. Put your hands
flat on the floor underneath your tush. Then, bring your knees up to your chest
and lift your butt off the ground a few inches. Hold it there for a second or
two and then roll your feet back to the floor. Do 25 reps total.

Stretch It Out

Lay down on the floor with your hands behind your head and
spread your legs out, keeping your knees unbent. Then sit up, reaching straight
out with your right hand. When you’re sitting up fully, twist to your left and
try to touch your left toe with your right hand. Lower yourself back down and
switch hands – right goes behind your head and left reaches. Then sit up,
reaching straight out with your left hand and bring it over to try to touch
your right toe. Do 20 reps with each hand, or 40 total.

Twist and Shout

Sit down on the ground with your knees bent and clasp your
hand together in your lap. Then pick your feet off the ground a few inches and roll back to balance on your tailbone. Turning
your shoulders, twist your trunk ‘til your clasped hands can touch the ground
on your right side. They should hit just a little bit behind your tush, or at
least even with it, if you’re twistin’ all the way. Then twist in the opposite
direction and touch your hands to the ground on your left side, just as far
back. Remember not to let your feet touch the ground throughout the entire set
and touch the ground 25 times on each side.

Biker Chick

Lay down on your back with your hands behind your head. Then
bend your knees and lift your feet ‘til your shins are parallel with the
ground. At the same time, push your right leg out straight (without touching
the ground) and pull your left knee in a little closer. Bring your right elbow
up to meet your left knee by crunching and twisting simultaneously. Then lower
your upper bod almost back to the ground. Just before you would hit the ground,
bring your left elbow up to meet your right knee as you switch your leg’s
positions. Keep switching positions and twisting back and forth for 20
knee-to-elbow touches on each side. It should look a bit like you’re bicycling
and remember never to let your feet touch the ground.

Diamonds Are a Girl’s
Best Friend

Lay down on your back with your legs out straight and put
your hands flat on the ground underneath your butt. Next, bend your knees
slightly and put the bottoms of your feet together. Your legs should look like
a diamond to anyone looking down at you. Then lift your legs up in the air and
when they’re perpendicular to the rest of your bod, push your tush a few inches
off the ground, so that your toes are reaching toward the sky. Hold it there
for a second and lower your legs back to the ground. Do 24 more reps and the
entire time, remember to keep your knees apart and the bottoms of your feet
together.

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